COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF FICUS EXASPERATA VAHL. AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT AND SPIRONOLACTONE ON URINARY EXCRETIONS IN NORMOTENSIVE RATS
Augustin K. Amonkan, Marie L.B. Ahui, André B. Konan*, Léandre K. Kouakou, Mathieu N. Bléyéré, Marcel G. K. Bouafou, Séraphin Kati-Coulibaly
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants known diuretics are commonly used to treat
hypertension and edema. Ficus exasperata aqueous leaf extract
(FEFIX) lowers blood pressure in a dose-dependent. This extract had a
relatively large and higher diuretic and electrolyte effect than that
induced by a loop diuretic. The effectiveness of diuretics was based on
their site of action in the nephron. The aim of this work was to
compare the effects of FEFIX to those of spironolactone (SPLT),
aldosterone antagonist, in normal rats. Single doses of FEFIX (100
mg/kg b.w.) and SPLT (10 mg/kg b.w.) were orally administered to
two groups of rats. A control group received NaCl (9 ‰). The urine
was collected and sampled every two hours for 24 hours. Blood was
drawn at the end of the experiment. Levels of electrolytes (Na, K, Cl
and Ca 2), urea and creatinine were measured in urine and serum. FEFIX and SPLT increased
urine volume and urinary excretion of sodium and chlorine. Both substances studied
decreased serum sodium and serum chloride. FEFIX increased the urinary excretion of
creatinine and urea without significantly altering their plasma concentration. The conclusion of this work is that the aqueous extract of F. exasperata leaves had a relatively high diuretic
activity. This extract changed the plasma levels of electrolytes like SPLT after 24 hours.
Keywords: Urinary excretion, Electrolytes, Ficus exasperata, Spironolactone.
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